TL;DR (Quick Summary)
When you apply for a mortgage, your credit must be reviewed. In the past, this could result in unwanted calls or emails from other lenders—known as trigger leads. As of March 5, 2026, federal law significantly limits this practice, shifting it toward an opt‑in model. We do not sell your information, and there are steps you can take to further protect your privacy.
Last updated for applications submitted on or after March 5, 2026
When you apply for a home loan with Money Well Lending, LLC, we are required to review your credit history as part of the underwriting process. We take your privacy seriously and want you to understand what mortgage “trigger leads” are, why they exist, what has changed under new federal law, and what you can do to protect yourself from unwanted solicitations.
A mortgage trigger lead occurs when a consumer’s credit report is pulled for a mortgage-related inquiry and that activity signals to the credit reporting system that the consumer may be “in the market” for a home loan.
Historically, consumer reporting agencies (credit bureaus) were permitted to sell limited consumer contact information associated with these mortgage inquiries to other lenders or brokers. Those third parties could then contact the consumer with competing loan offers—often within hours or days of the credit pull.
These solicitations:
Trigger leads developed under federal credit law as part of a system intended to:
However, in practice, many consumers experienced:
These concerns ultimately led to significant changes in federal law.
Effective March 5, 2026, federal updates to the Fair Credit Reporting Act—commonly referred to as the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act—substantially changed how mortgage trigger leads work.
Trigger leads now operate largely on an opt-in basis.
In most situations:
This represents a major shift away from the prior system, where consumers often had to take steps after credit was pulled to reduce solicitation.
Yes. The law allows limited exceptions, such as:
How these exceptions apply depends on the facts of each situation and is governed by compliance rules applicable to the soliciting party.
For most applicants, the volume of unsolicited calls, texts, and emails following a mortgage credit pull should be significantly reduced under the new law.
That said:
Being informed is still your best protection.
Even with the new law in place, opting out remains a strong privacy tool.
You may opt out of prescreened credit offers by visiting: www.optoutprescreen.com
You can select a five-year electronic opt-out, which applies across participating consumer reporting agencies.
If someone contacts you after you apply for a mortgage:
If they claim to be “working with” your lender or loan officer, verify that claim directly with us before engaging.
Legitimate lenders will never pressure you to immediately send:
Do not upload or email sensitive documents unless you have independently confirmed the identity of the recipient.
Be cautious if a caller or sender:
You selected our company because of trust, transparency, and service. If you are ever unsure whether a communication is legitimate, contact your assigned loan officer directly using known contact information.
No. We do not sell your personal information or your application details. Historically, trigger leads originated from credit reporting system practices—not from lenders sharing files.
A credit inquiry is still required for a mortgage application. However, under current law, the downstream use of that inquiry for broad solicitation is far more limited than in the past.
While no system can guarantee zero unsolicited contact, combining the new federal protections with a prescreen opt-out and basic verification practices provides strong protection.
Stop the conversation immediately and contact us directly. Impersonation and misrepresentation are serious issues, and we want to know if they occur.
Money Well Lending, LLC is committed to responsible lending, borrower education, and compliance with all applicable federal and state laws. We believe transparency builds trust and helps protect consumers from confusion, misinformation, and fraud.
We believe informed borrowers are protected borrowers. Our goal is to:
If you have any questions about credit, privacy, or your application, please contact your loan officer directly. We are here to help.
This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Individual circumstances and third‑party practices may vary.